The Robot file

February 7, 2013 9:18 AM

Photo: Chronicle archives/The Chronicle

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Nov. 13, 1979: Behold the Quasar Industries household robot, which was photographed cooking, cleaning and walking the dog -- and was 18 to 22 months away from mass production according to repeated promises throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. Real journalists believed this. less

Nov. 13, 1979: Behold the Quasar Industries household robot, which was photographed cooking, cleaning and walking the dog -- and was 18 to 22 months away from mass production according to repeated promises ... more

Nov. 6, 1977: Klaatu the Quasar Industries robot appears to perform household chores. The robot wasn't really cleaning -- it was posed in the position and controlled by a hidden operator. Bonus points for including a hat *and* an apron. Other photos showed the robot in a bow tie. less

Nov. 6, 1977: Klaatu the Quasar Industries robot appears to perform household chores. The robot wasn't really cleaning -- it was posed in the position and controlled by a hidden operator. Bonus points for ... more

Feb. 26, 1977: A robot plays craps. I don't know why the robot wranglers insisted on putting dumb hats on the robots -- except to improve the illusion that it had human characteristics. Is this woman happy because she's hitting on the robot, or does she have a lot of money on the Don't Pass line? less

Feb. 26, 1977: A robot plays craps. I don't know why the robot wranglers insisted on putting dumb hats on the robots -- except to improve the illusion that it had human characteristics. Is this woman happy ... more

Au. 2, 1974: Ralph Trinity and his family display their robot Rusty and his wonder dog Spectron. While the robots look like a beloved part of the family, they had very limited capabilities and performed for schools and benefits, according to an Associated Press story. less

Au. 2, 1974: Ralph Trinity and his family display their robot Rusty and his wonder dog Spectron. While the robots look like a beloved part of the family, they had very limited capabilities and performed for ... more

Sept. 6, 1983: This is not the PanhandleBot 2000, as I originally assumed. It's a robot called Squirt, built by Tom Carroll -- who as far as I've been able to tell was a real scientist, and never deceived the public about his robots. He also had a larger one named Colossus. less

Sept. 6, 1983: This is not the PanhandleBot 2000, as I originally assumed. It's a robot called Squirt, built by Tom Carroll -- who as far as I've been able to tell was a real scientist, and never deceived the ... more

Photo: Courtesy Los Angeles Times

Sept. 6, 1983: This is not the PanhandleBot 2000, as I originally... Photo-4151724.56377 - Houston Chronicle

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Feb. 11, 1986: A robot receptionist greets a visitor at Namco Limited in Tokyo. She (it?) was programmed to say Welcome to our company in Japanese. It's weird that someone thought to give this robot breasts. That said, I would be 100% behind the Chronicle getting one for our lobby. less

Feb. 11, 1986: A robot receptionist greets a visitor at Namco Limited in Tokyo. She (it?) was programmed to say Welcome to our company in Japanese. It's weird that someone thought to give this robot breasts. ... more

March 29, 1983: A remote controlled robot wows a dressed-up crowd at San Francisco City Hall. It appears to be passing out fliers or a program for an unnamed event. Note the bowler hat. Much more classic than a fedora or ball cap, although a top hat would have been nice with this crowd. less

March 29, 1983: A remote controlled robot wows a dressed-up crowd at San Francisco City Hall. It appears to be passing out fliers or a program for an unnamed event. Note the bowler hat. Much more classic than a ... more

April 1, 1985: A robot on display at the 1985 Future World Expo at Moscone Center. By the mid-1980s, most free-thinking consumers had figured robot butlers weren't coming any time soon. But robots like the PanderBot Mark III (I made up that name -- note the A's hat) were still popular with kids. less

April 1, 1985: A robot on display at the 1985 Future World Expo at Moscone Center. By the mid-1980s, most free-thinking consumers had figured robot butlers weren't coming any time soon. But robots like the ... more

Photo: Vince Maggiora, The Chronicle

April 1, 1985: A robot on display at the 1985 Future World Expo at... Photo-4151728.56377 - Houston Chronicle

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April 25, 1983: Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick looks suspiciously at new crime-fighting robot OPD2. (With trucket cap!) This was a full four years before RoboCop, and thus seemed like less of a bad idea. My guess: OPD2 spent most of his time in a closet, and came out for the Christmas party. less

April 25, 1983: Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick looks suspiciously at new crime-fighting robot OPD2. (With trucket cap!) This was a full four years before RoboCop, and thus seemed like less of a bad idea. My ... more

March 18, 1985: No sham here. The Wasubot actually plays a keyboard for a crowd in Japan. Judging by his finger placement, I'm guessing Your Song by Elton John. I believe there was a period later in the 1980s, after a falling out with Rick Wakeman, when this robot played keys for Yes. less

March 18, 1985: No sham here. The Wasubot actually plays a keyboard for a crowd in Japan. Judging by his finger placement, I'm guessing Your Song by Elton John. I believe there was a period later in the 1980s, ... more

Sept. 3, 1984: George Sun operates the Hubot robot at The Sharper Image in San Francisco, a $4,000 product that was marketed as if it was an android but was basically a rolling clock radio/video game console. I'll pull in close so you can see the inclusion of an Atari 2600 system in the belly ... less

Sept. 3, 1984: George Sun operates the Hubot robot at The Sharper Image in San Francisco, a $4,000 product that was marketed as if it was an android but was basically a rolling clock radio/video game console. ... more

Sept. 3, 1984: A close up of the Hubot, which reveals that the video game console is actually a (by then very outdated) Atari 2600. If I'm trying to sell Hubots, I wouldn't choose Asteroids as my display game. If anyone has a working Hubot for sale, I'd pay $100 just to set drinks on it. less

Sept. 3, 1984: A close up of the Hubot, which reveals that the video game console is actually a (by then very outdated) Atari 2600. If I'm trying to sell Hubots, I wouldn't choose Asteroids as my display game. ... more

Photo: Gary Fong, The Chronicle

Sept. 3, 1984: A close up of the Hubot, which reveals that the... Photo-4151732.56377 - Houston Chronicle

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Nov. 28, 1984: By the mid-1980s, promotional robots were common. In TV and film including Days of Our Lives and Rocky IV, they appeared to have intelligence, although they were usually remote controlled. Here the Mr. T Telebot shills Pepsi to students at U.C. Berkeley. less

Nov. 28, 1984: By the mid-1980s, promotional robots were common. In TV and film including Days of Our Lives and Rocky IV, they appeared to have intelligence, although they were usually remote controlled. Here ... more

April 20, 1986: The Gannett newspapers chain debuts the USA Today PieChartBot (I made that name up, too) in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel. Not going to make any more fun of this one. I'm convinced newspaper rack/robot hybrids could have saved print journalism in the long term. less

April 20, 1986: The Gannett newspapers chain debuts the USA Today PieChartBot (I made that name up, too) in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel. Not going to make any more fun of this one. I'm convinced newspaper ... more

Nov. 24, 1977: I'm calling this Examiner article the ultimate low point in the Bay Area robot coverage. R2-D2 in an apron, along with a story all but guaranteeing robot butlers by 1979. (No wonder it took me five years of pressure to convince George Lucas to sit down for an interview.) less

Nov. 24, 1977: I'm calling this Examiner article the ultimate low point in the Bay Area robot coverage. R2-D2 in an apron, along with a story all but guaranteeing robot butlers by 1979. (No wonder it took me ... more

Nov. 13, 1979. This article ran in the San Francisco Chronicle, taking pretty much everything the hucksters at Quasar were saying as established fact. (There was one sentence that acknowledged scientific concerns -- buried in the 15th paragraph.) less

Nov. 13, 1979. This article ran in the San Francisco Chronicle, taking pretty much everything the hucksters at Quasar were saying as established fact. (There was one sentence that acknowledged scientific ... more

Nov. 13, 1979: Here's what the Quasar Industries people were promising in the beginning of the 1980s. The display robots were photographed in action shots holding vacuum and dog leashes, but Quasar's performance robots never came close to accomplishing these tasks. less

Nov. 13, 1979: Here's what the Quasar Industries people were promising in the beginning of the 1980s. The display robots were photographed in action shots holding vacuum and dog leashes, but Quasar's ... more

Dec. 9, 1981: One of the things that supported the illusion of thinking robots were a string of articles treating robot accidents if they were revenge killings. This Associated Press report ran in the Chronicle. less

Dec. 9, 1981: One of the things that supported the illusion of thinking robots were a string of articles treating robot accidents if they were revenge killings. This Associated Press report ran in the ... more

Photo: Chronicle Archives, The Chronicle

Dec. 9, 1981: One of the things that supported the illusion of... Photo-4151737.56377 - Houston Chronicle

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Nov. 27, 1980: Another robot violence article that ran in the Chronicle. Between this and The Day After, I pretty much never wanted to leave my house between the ages of 7 and 13.

Nov. 27, 1980: Another robot violence article that ran in the Chronicle. Between this and The Day After, I pretty much never wanted to leave my house between the ages of 7 and 13.

Aug. 3, 1984: Like I've hopefully made clear, not all robot builders of the 1980s were trying to fool the public. In this photo, Bay Area children check out an educational interactive robot at the Lawrence Hall of Science. I remember seeing these and being wowed. less

Aug. 3, 1984: Like I've hopefully made clear, not all robot builders of the 1980s were trying to fool the public. In this photo, Bay Area children check out an educational interactive robot at the Lawrence Hall ... more

June 23, 1983: A robot gives a short programmed testimony at a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Technology committee meeting. When it was done, the robot shot a hidden lightsaber to Alan Cranston, who then slayed Jesse Helms. I'm not going to tell you what Dianne Feinstein was wearing during all this. less

June 23, 1983: A robot gives a short programmed testimony at a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Technology committee meeting. When it was done, the robot shot a hidden lightsaber to Alan Cranston, who then ... more

Photo: Bob Strong/UPI

June 23, 1983: A robot gives a short programmed testimony at a U.S.... Photo-4151740.56377 - Houston Chronicle

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1980s: Couldn't get through this gallery without adding 2T2, Bob Wilkins' sidekick on the KTVU children's show Captain Cosmic. You can see 2T2 at Atlantis Fantasyworld comic book store in Santa Cruz, where he's on permanent display. Thanks for commenter wirelessandy for the reminder! less

1980s: Couldn't get through this gallery without adding 2T2, Bob Wilkins' sidekick on the KTVU children's show Captain Cosmic. You can see 2T2 at Atlantis Fantasyworld comic book store in Santa Cruz, where he's ... more

1980s: Couldn't get through this gallery without adding 2T2,... Photo-4158370.56377 - Houston Chronicle